Veterans of Soviet War in Afghanistan ask house arrest for Autukhovich

Aleh Vouchak and Aliaksandr Kamarouski, co-heads of the
organising committee of republican association of veterans of the
Soviet War in Afghanistan “Defenders of Homeland”, sent an appeal to
Prosecutor General Aliaksandr Kaniuk.

The veterans ask him to take Mikalai Autukhovich's
case under control and replace his punishment with a softer one – house
arrest or community works, human rights activist Aleh Vouchak told
Belorusski Partizan website.

“We know that Mikalai Autukhovich
cut his abdomen in Hrodna prison No. 1 on September 3 protesting against
the prison authorities who want to give him the status of a persistent
violator of prison rules. His current disciplinary sanction expires in
September. As far as we know, Mikalai Autukhovich has two disciplinary
sanctions due to cavils from the prison authorities. If he receives a
third sanction, he will be declared a persistent violator of prison
rules.

Autukhovich's term expires in six months, so he is
not interested in violating the rules. We asked the Prosecutor General
to check if the sanctions were imposed on him on legal grounds and take
Autukhovich's case under personal control. Under article 92 of the
Criminal Procedure Code, punishment can be softened – it can be replaced
by house arrest or community works. We understand that Autukhovich's
offence (possession of five cartridges for a hunting rifle) is not
dangerous for society. Mikalai Autukhovich has 10 medals, 3 of which
were given for combat services. Autukhovich needs dental treatment, but
it is impossible in prison.

We think the punishment for Autukhovich should be softened,” Aleh Vouchak said.

We
remind that businessman from Vaukavysk cut his abdomen with a razor on
September 3 in prison No. 1 in Hrodna. The political prisoner protested
against illegal sanctions from the prison authorities, human rights
defenders report.

Mikalai Autukhovich, a veteran of the Soviet War
in Afghanistan, was sentenced in May 2010 to 5 years in a maximum
security prison for possessing five cartridges for a hunting rifle.